Why the cost increase?

You didn’t go deep enough on your research. What the government does when it appears to take money from Social Security is skim off earnings of the surplus that is invested in bond funds. Money that comes in today goes right back out tomorrow to pay benefits.

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Let's put it this way if you're happy with what you "THINK" is going on. Good for you.  I'll remind you of the movie called "The Matrix".

Though you're not physically plugged in, you sure are living off the "FAKE dream".  This is truly how America is currently working..

My protest is the American way.  Agon has no reason to erase the thread. Seldom do the moderator's step in. Usually deleted post are self deleted.  There is the deliberate poster every now and then that chooses to try to derail honest conversation about WHY material cost is so high. Unfortunately people in general are willing to welcomed the disgusting practice of GOUGING and call it supply and demand..

Middle man America, always with their hand out and their "Earned surplus" .. But not willing to ad any value to the product, BUT COST. 

The "Skimming off the TOP" Is exactly what is wrong. That money was designed for SS not one other thing.. BUT somehow guys just like you think it's alright to STEAL the money via a law change and slight of hand.

How many illegal SS contribution are returned to the sender? or for that matter even TRACKED. It's thought to be a license to steal, when in reality it's just plain stealing and apparently no one gives a CRAP about it either..  I guess I must have hit a nerve..

Regards,,

Look throughout our country’s history,and you will see MANY great ideas that were designed to truly help people and our country,get perverted by greed.  SS rises to the top of that list. 

I used the potato chip story just to point out how skewed everything has become these days....of course there were other brands for sale at all price points (I gave up potato chips for the most part about two years ago). I try to be the glass half-full kind of guy, but it's hard to be an optimist in the face of a poisoned political environment that pits 45% of the country against the other 55% over made-up or imagined grievances, while climate change is making it progressively more dangerous for everybody (but very few seem to take it seriously). I am not a member of the greatest generation, but am not far removed chronologically, having been born in the mid-20th century. I do believe that as a nation we will overcome most of the challenges facing us, IF we can manage to retain a civil, considerate, and moderate tone for dealing with our differences. Lacking that, we will continue to travel down the road that leads to real trouble. 

I can't stop eating BBQ flavored chips. 
Gave up sodas decades ago.
Gotta clean up my act.